Principle 4

Our management systems, organisational structures, processes, standards, code of conduct and behaviours together form a system of internal control that governs how we conduct the business of Providence and manage all associated risks.

Internal Control:

The Directors have overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal control to safeguard shareholders’ investments and the Group assets and have delegated responsibility for the implementation of this system to executive management. This system includes financial controls which enable the Board to meet its responsibilities for the integrity and accuracy of the Group’s accounting records. Following the publication of the Turnbull Report, the Board established a process of compliance which involved an expansion of the Board’s responsibility to maintain, review and report on all internal controls, including financial, operational and compliance risk management. Among the processes applied in reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal controls are the following: Budgets are prepared for approval by executive management and inclusion in a Group budget approved by the Board. Expenditure and income are regularly compared to previously approved budgets. The Board establishes treasury and commodity risk policies as appropriate, for implementation by executive management. All commitments for expenditure and payments are compared to previously approved budgets and are subject to approval by personnel designated by the Board of Directors or by the Board of subsidiary companies. Regular management meetings take place to review financial and operational activities. Cash flow forecasting is performed on an ongoing basis to ensure efficient use of cash resources. Regular financial results are submitted to and reviewed by the Board of Directors. The Directors, through the Audit Committee, review the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal financial control. A review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control is carried out annually, through the annual audit process. The Board has considered the requirement for an internal audit function. Based on the scale of the Group’s operations and close involvement of the Board, the Directors have concluded that an internal audit function is not currently required.

Risk Management:

Currency Risk - The Board reviews its annual Euro, Sterling and US dollar requirements by reference to bank forecasts and prevailing exchange rates and management is authorised to achieve best available rates in respect of each forecast currency requirements.

General Industry Risk - The Group’s business may be affected by the general risks associated with all companies in the oil and gas industry. These risks (the list of which is not exhaustive) include: general economic activity, the world oil and gas prices, the marketability of the hydrocarbons produced, action taken by other oil-producing nations and the extent of governmental regulation and taxation. All drilling to establish productive hydrocarbon reserves is inherently speculative and, therefore, a considerable amount of professional judgement is involved in the selection of any prospect for drilling. In addition, even when drilling successfully encounters oil and gas and a well is completed as a producing oil or gas well, unforeseeable operating problems or climatic conditions may arise which render it uneconomical to produce such oil and natural gas. Estimates of potential reserves include a substantial proportion which are undeveloped. These reserves require further capital expenditure in order to bring them into production. No guarantee can be given as to the success of drilling programmes in which the Group has interests. The Group can operate in different political jurisdictions where there could be risks pertaining to local regulations, war or nationalisation of reserves.